What do you think?
A Dog Lover's Mystery #16
Bride & Groom
The future looks promising for Holly Winter. Her regular column in Dog's Life magazine is going strong. Her successful new dog-treat cookbook - 101 Ways to Cook Liver - has canine-lovers (and her own Alaskan malamutes) panting in anticipation. And she's about to marry Steve Delaney, her handsome veterinarian (and a Best of Breed himself). More the pity that murder is spoiling the mood. And Holly can't help but take it personally...
The first victim is an anesthesiologist, murdered in a Cambridge hotel only a mile from Holly's home. The second victim is a friend of Holly's who published a canine version of the tarot. The third is an expert who used touch to heal traumatized animals. And the fourth was a fellow dog writer. What's more, they were all female, and each with a connection to Holly. Now, the killer has promised a next victim. Who will it be? Holly fears that she herself fits the profile. How can she stop him from killing again? If she wants to make it to her wedding day, she'd better get a clue.
262 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 3, 2004
About the author
Susan Conant
48 books148 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
(1)mysteries
Mother of author Jessica Park aka Jessica Conant-Park
The photo is of Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant, daughter and mother.
(1)mysteries
Mother of author Jessica Park aka Jessica Conant-Park
The photo is of Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant, daughter and mother.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 9, 2019
I love Susan Conant's dog mysteries so much. In this book, she finally marries her long time love, Steve. (Long suffering if you ask me.)
This book is full of fun trivia, clues, and humor. I loved it!!
This book is full of fun trivia, clues, and humor. I loved it!!
May 11, 2018
About halfway through this novel, I thought, "This sounds familiar," so I am thinking I read this before. Which is no surprise, I've been reading Ms. Conant's Dog Lover Mysteries for a long time. And it didn't stop my enjoyment of the read, so there's that.
Holly Winter and her beloved Steve are finally getting married. Holly's book, 101 Ways to Cook Liver, has been published. And Mac, one of her erstwhile friends, who is a popular published author, is determined to help Holly out with her promotion of her book.
The story more or less revolves around this - Holly and Mac and their books - and women who are all on the periphery of Holly's life. Women she's known (though not necessarily liked) are turning up dead. Bludgeoned to death, then injected with a drug used mostly by veterinarians. Holly figures she's not in danger, though Steve and her neighbor, Kevin, think differently - all of the women are associated with dogs and have a reputation regarding them in one way or another.
The ending didn't come as a shock (as I said, I've read it before and about halfway through, I remembered, "Oh, this story") but was a wrenching-in-it's-own-way shock.
Good for fans of cozies and/or dogs.
Holly Winter and her beloved Steve are finally getting married. Holly's book, 101 Ways to Cook Liver, has been published. And Mac, one of her erstwhile friends, who is a popular published author, is determined to help Holly out with her promotion of her book.
The story more or less revolves around this - Holly and Mac and their books - and women who are all on the periphery of Holly's life. Women she's known (though not necessarily liked) are turning up dead. Bludgeoned to death, then injected with a drug used mostly by veterinarians. Holly figures she's not in danger, though Steve and her neighbor, Kevin, think differently - all of the women are associated with dogs and have a reputation regarding them in one way or another.
The ending didn't come as a shock (as I said, I've read it before and about halfway through, I remembered, "Oh, this story") but was a wrenching-in-it's-own-way shock.
Good for fans of cozies and/or dogs.
May 21, 2023
This was one of the best entries in the series. I can't resist a good serial killer story and was happy to see Steve and Holly married.
November 30, 2019
This series always downplays the mystery in favor of information about dogs. In this episode, Holly and Steve are planning their wedding with their 5 dogs and the assorted dogs of friends and family, There is a serial murderer on the loose, and they seem to be targeting women in the dog world. As the murders occur, Holly basically hears about them second hand and has no real involvement in solving them. Once again, they mystery is solved seemingly by accident. Still, this is a comfortable series for me and I thought this was one of the better books in the series.
December 30, 2019
I've read a handful of Conant's book in her Holly Winter series, all mediocre at best, and 'Bride and Groom' continues the mediocrity, but on the low side. I chose the book for the Popsugar 2019 'A Book That Includes a Wedding' prompt, and while it satisfied the prompt, it didn't necessarily satisfy me. Winter is preparing for her own wedding as well as promoting her new cookbook for dogs at the same time a serial killer is targeting mostly middle-aged women with a connection to dogs, a demographic that Holly fits squarely into. Therefore, Holly's nerves are on edge, as she tries to balance speaking engagements, wedding shopping, preventing her overbearing father from spoiling her big day, and assimilating her canine family members with those of Steve, her soon-to-be husband, while trying to avoid setting herself up as the killer's next victim.
Conant provides a very limited pool of suspects, such that the killer is either someone featured in the story for completely different reasons, or a minor character who barely gets a mention until it is discovered they are guilty. I read enough thriller books to spot the vast difference in how a thriller writer treats a serial killer on the loose vs. how an author like Conant, whose books focus on dog showing and amateur sleuthing, addresses the situation. Frankly, I prefer the thriller writer perspective.
There were some odd holes in the story, and focuses on things that I failed to see the relevance of. The book was published in 2004, but the taboo of HIV/AIDS came up on multiple occasions unrelated to each other, something I might have expected in a book written 10+ years sooner. A minor detail I noticed was when Holly and Steve attend a dinner party with other couples, and the seating arrangement is described, yet one of the attendees is not present at the table and no explanation is given. Probably an oversight, but it is pointed out how all but one adult there is part of a couple, yet the seating is even. The biggest issue I had though was how much emphasis was placed on women not going anywhere alone while the killer was at large, but when Holly feels she has finally figured it out, everyone seems fine letting her do so on her own.
All said, it wasn't a horrible book, just not one of my favorites. If you're looking for a gripping story, probably better to choose another book. However, if you're looking for a silly story of how a dog writer somehow tracks down a serial killer in the days leading up to her wedding, with lots of other dog-related minutiae intertwined in, you might just like it.
Conant provides a very limited pool of suspects, such that the killer is either someone featured in the story for completely different reasons, or a minor character who barely gets a mention until it is discovered they are guilty. I read enough thriller books to spot the vast difference in how a thriller writer treats a serial killer on the loose vs. how an author like Conant, whose books focus on dog showing and amateur sleuthing, addresses the situation. Frankly, I prefer the thriller writer perspective.
There were some odd holes in the story, and focuses on things that I failed to see the relevance of. The book was published in 2004, but the taboo of HIV/AIDS came up on multiple occasions unrelated to each other, something I might have expected in a book written 10+ years sooner. A minor detail I noticed was when Holly and Steve attend a dinner party with other couples, and the seating arrangement is described, yet one of the attendees is not present at the table and no explanation is given. Probably an oversight, but it is pointed out how all but one adult there is part of a couple, yet the seating is even. The biggest issue I had though was how much emphasis was placed on women not going anywhere alone while the killer was at large, but when Holly feels she has finally figured it out, everyone seems fine letting her do so on her own.
All said, it wasn't a horrible book, just not one of my favorites. If you're looking for a gripping story, probably better to choose another book. However, if you're looking for a silly story of how a dog writer somehow tracks down a serial killer in the days leading up to her wedding, with lots of other dog-related minutiae intertwined in, you might just like it.
September 14, 2025
I read almost all the books in the series years ago, but I never found this one in a library... until last summer, when I found it at a library sale. 😁
Reading it felt like a cozy visit with old friends. I love Holly, Rowdy, Kimi, and all the neighbors, friends, relatives, and dog details. So many dog details. 😅 But it wouldn't be a Susan Conant book without those. It felt like a satisfying conclusion, too, for Holly and Steve to finally get married surrounded by dogs and a murder or two.
Reading it felt like a cozy visit with old friends. I love Holly, Rowdy, Kimi, and all the neighbors, friends, relatives, and dog details. So many dog details. 😅 But it wouldn't be a Susan Conant book without those. It felt like a satisfying conclusion, too, for Holly and Steve to finally get married surrounded by dogs and a murder or two.
April 27, 2018
Outstanding!!
September 9, 2018
BORING- DIDN'T READ
January 29, 2015
The future looks promising for Holly Winter. Her regular column in Dog's Life magazine is going strong. Her successful new dog-treat cookbook - 101 Ways to Cook Liver - has canine-lovers (and her own Alaskan malamutes) panting in anticipation. And she's about to marry Steve Delaney, her handsome veterinarian (and a Best of Breed himself). More the pity that murder is spoiling the mood. And Holly can't help but take it personally...
The first victim is an anesthesiologist, murdered in a Cambridge hotel only a mile from Holly's home. The second victim is a friend of Holly's who published a canine version of the tarot. The third is an expert who used touch to heal traumatized animals. And the fourth was a fellow dog writer. What's more, they were all female, and each with a connection to Holly. Now, the killer has promised a next victim. Who will it be? Holly fears that she herself fits the profile. How can she stop him from killing again? If she wants to make it to her wedding day, she'd better get a clue.
The first victim is an anesthesiologist, murdered in a Cambridge hotel only a mile from Holly's home. The second victim is a friend of Holly's who published a canine version of the tarot. The third is an expert who used touch to heal traumatized animals. And the fourth was a fellow dog writer. What's more, they were all female, and each with a connection to Holly. Now, the killer has promised a next victim. Who will it be? Holly fears that she herself fits the profile. How can she stop him from killing again? If she wants to make it to her wedding day, she'd better get a clue.
July 30, 2012
(Mystery, dogs, romance 2004) Another on-going series. I really have to stop reading things out of order because there's always that feeling of not quite knowing what's going on, and a lot of plot space is used up going over past points. Holly and Steve, both very involved with dogs (she's an author of dog-related articles and now a book, he's a vet) are about to get married. Women with connections to the dog world are being murdered. Possible suspects abound, as do quirky characters. A pleasant read, nonetheless. I do like the various characters and their relationships.
March 18, 2008
I found this one kind of wishy-washy...
I was pleased when a friend informed me of Conant's dog/detective series. Growing up with a grandmother who devoured every "The Cat Who..." story, which never interested me, I have long wanted dog-themed books of same.
The author does not disappoint. The books are witty, informational, and quick-reads, without being too predictable.
I was pleased when a friend informed me of Conant's dog/detective series. Growing up with a grandmother who devoured every "The Cat Who..." story, which never interested me, I have long wanted dog-themed books of same.
The author does not disappoint. The books are witty, informational, and quick-reads, without being too predictable.
March 28, 2008
I just read this one today and I enjoyed it. The mystery element sort of takes back seat as Holly plans out her long awaited wedding to Steve. The dogs were fun in this book without taking over (yes, I know they are a major part of this series, but I think that's overdone sometimes). I wasn't really taken completely by surprise by the identity of the murderer, but I enjoyed the book anyway.
November 21, 2011
Another in the fun, light hearted dog mystery series featuring Holly Winter and her dymanic dog duo. These books are total fluff, but for a fun read to take your mind of stress, I recommend this series. Simple. Fun. Cozy mystery. Need I say more?
July 26, 2008
Nothing earth-shattering, but a solid, entertaining cozy.
August 24, 2010
Meh. Not very dramatic in terms of suspense it was pretty predictable.
February 1, 2011
A sleuth who loves dogs is perfect for me. The mystery was somewhat unpredictable and the descriptions of the heroine's life with her dogs were very enjoyable and familiar.
March 30, 2011
Amusing; one of a series about dog writer Holly Winter: this time she's getting married to long-time beau Steve Delaney, a marriage that combines their menageries.
April 5, 2011
So excited for the wedding. It was fun, but the alter story was sad. An intriguing ending.
April 20, 2011
This was a cute book...I liked the characters and the mystery was logical with clues. Well written, easy read!
August 7, 2011
Another solid book by one of my favorite mystery writers. Her character development is nicely paced and the mysteries continue to be fresh.
April 5, 2012
Not my favorite mystery plot, but one of the best character fulfilment stories in the series.
Read
April 19, 2013Loved it. Quirky and silly and good laugh, but also a good mystery and great to see Holly and her beau together.
July 23, 2013
It has been a while since I read a Susan Conant dog mystery. I forgot what a wonder sense of humor she has!
February 3, 2008
Light mystery about someone who keeps murdering women associated with dogs and dog lovers.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews